überragt

Überragt is a German verb formed from the verb ragen with the prefix über. It means to tower over or to surpass both literally, as in height, and figuratively, as in quality or achievement. The term is used transitively: der Turm überragt die anderen Gebäude; jemand kann seine Konkurrenten oder Kollegen überragen.

Grammatically, überragen can function in various tenses. In the present tense the common third-person form is er überragt. The simple past is überragte, and the perfect is hat überragt. The participle II is überragt, and the participle present form is überragend when used as an adjective.

Etymology and usage notes: the prefix über- intensifies the verb rag- meaning to protrude or jut, giving a sense of outstanding physical height or superior performance. In figurative use, überragen describes someone or something that stands out markedly from others, often in a positive sense, though it can also carry an evaluative edge depending on context.

Related forms and substitutions: the adjective form überragend is more common when describing quality or achievement, as in eine überragende Leistung. A noun form exists as Überragung, though it is relatively rare and more formal.

Examples:

- Der Turm überragt alle anderen Gebäude der Stadt. (The tower towers over all other buildings in the city.)

- Sie überragt ihre Mitbewerber durch ihre umfassende Expertise. (She surpasses her competitors through her comprehensive expertise.)

- Die Leistung war überragend. (The performance was outstanding.)

In summary, überragt is a versatile verb for expressing superiority in height or quality, with übliche tenses and a common adjective form überragend to describe outstanding attributes.

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